Auto mechanics advice on a quality nut splitter

[madeinuk]

I am trying to get an old Woods RM59 finish mower working again and because this was not maintained many nuts and bolts are basically fused together with rust.

I bought a nut splitter but its quality is not great:

https://www.autozone.com/test-scan-and-specialty-tools/nut-splitting-tool

Do any pro or hardcore amateur mechanics know of a brand that is well made, cuts at 90 degrees and has a hardened bit?  If so please do share…

Edited July 25, 2022 by madeinuk

[Kype]

are the nuts still square or rounded over?

[madeinuk]

1 hour ago, Kype said:

are the nuts still square or rounded over?

Somewhat pitted and corroded in places on the ones that I need to split.  I have tried kroil, CNC Freeze off and a blowtorch but cannot use a wrench with a cheater bar because of they are no longer have a regular hexagonal cross section.

[Woodsman416]

Heat it with an oxy/acetylene torch and use a turbo socket (pictured in center) with an impact gun on a low torque setting.

Edited July 25, 2022 by Woodsman416

[hunterbob1]

1 hour ago, Woodsman416 said:

Heat it with an oxy/acetylene torch and use a turbo socket (pictured in center) with an impact gun on a low torque setting.

If you don't need to save the bolts, no need to heat, hammer on use a breaker bar the bolts will break.

Edited July 25, 2022 by hunterbob1

[Kype]

1 hour ago, madeinuk said:

Somewhat pitted and corroded in places on the ones that I need to split.  I have tried kroil, CNC Freeze off and a blowtorch but cannot use a wrench with a cheater bar because of they are no longer have a regular hexagonal cross section.

if you can wait a week. ill bring over my OD easy outs and a nut splitter from work. i have easy outs similar to what woodsman posted. they work great for rouned over nuts because they bite into the nut. let me know.

[madeinuk]

The issue that I have is that the belt tensioner is basically a long threaded rod fastened with rusted nuts that have been corroded.  Because of the length of the rod I cannot use turbo sockets. 

I have bought a manual on Ebay for this model (still on its way) because I will probably just cut the fncking rod and replace it in the end - I suspect that the whole thing is already 'jury rigged' but want to see what it should look like (and what part numbers are needed to replace it) before I do something as drastic as getting the Diablo blade out for the Sawzall.   

From my experience so far I can see that a nut splitter is a really useful tool under the right circumstances and buying and using a really shitty one from Autozone which will not hold the bit at 90 degrees has pissed me off into wanting to buy a good one.  I may never use it but I will at least know that I will have one that I can rely on in the future.

[Woodsman416]

If the nut is accessible, cut a deep groove in it with a cutoff wheel. Then use the nut splitter to finish it.

Edited July 25, 2022 by Woodsman416

[huntyctyboy]

cutoff wheel to make grove and just finish off with an air chisel if you have one. fast and hopefully easy